Samford coach Sullivan to miss TCU opener

Birmingham, AL (Sports Network) - Samford football coach Pat Sullivan will miss the team's season-opening game at TCU on Saturday due to a complication from a surgery earlier this year.

Sullivan was TCU's head coach from 1992-97, leading the program to a Southwest Conference title in 1994.

"My doctors have advised me not to travel at this time due to a complication from a surgery earlier this year," he said Wednesday in a statement. "We have an incredible coaching staff that has done a great job preparing our team for the season opener. I have full confidence that our coaches and student-athletes will make the Samford family proud on Saturday.

"I am happy that my wife, Jean, along with our son, Patrick, and daughter, Kelly, will be there to support the Bulldogs and reconnect with many of our old TCU friends."

Last year, Sullivan missed Samford's first game at Georgia State while he continued to recover from back surgery. In the 2012 season, he missed time because of pneumonia.